NCJ Number
55731
Date Published
1978
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN VIOLENT CRIME IS EXPLORED WITH REGARD TO A FACTUAL PROFILE OF CRIME, AND EXPLANATIONS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, POLICY, DETERRENCE, REPEATERS, REFORM, AND PUBLIC OPINION.
Abstract
THE MOST SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIMES, MURDER, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, FORCIBLE RAPE, AND ROBBERY, ARE INCLUDED IN A FACTUAL PROFILE OF VIOLENT CRIME WHICH REVEALS THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR VIOLENT CRIME IS CONCENTRATED AMONG YOUTHS IN THEIR LATE TEENS AND EARLY 20'S. REPORTED VIOLENT CRIME HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST TWO DECADES (PART OF THE INCREASE BEING DUE TO THE FACT THAT A HIGH PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION REACHED THE HIGH-CRIME YEARS OVER THESE DECADES), IS PRIMARILY A PHENOMENON OF LARGE CITIES, DISPROPORTIONATELY INVOLVES MALES, AND IS CONCENTRATED IN AREAS WHERE POOR MINORITIES LIVE. ROBBERY APPEARS TO HAVE THE LARGEST INTERRACIAL COMPONENT. OF THE BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS DEVELOPING REGARDING YOUTH AND VIOLENCE, SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OFFER THE MOST CREDIBLE EXPLANATIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH EMPHASIZE ECONOMIC FACTORS. WITH REGARD TO DETERRENCE, RESEARCH HAS NOT YET PROVEN THAT MORE SEVERE AND MORE CERTAIN PUNISHMENTS WILL REDUCE THE RATE OF VIOLENT CRIME SIGNIFICANTLY. THESE FINDINGS ARE SUBSTANTIATED BY THE FACT THAT A LARGE PART OF VIOLENT CRIME IS COMMITTED BY REPEATERS, NOT BY ONE-TIME OFFENDERS. IT IS URGED THAT REFORM BE DIRECTED TOWARD CORRECTING THE STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES OF SOCIETY WHICH ARE CONDUCIVE TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)